1、 Lifelong learning philosophy

The concept of lifelong learning originated in the 1970s and was proposed and promoted by UNESCO. This concept emphasizes that education should accompany individuals throughout their lives, promote personal development, and has become an important component of global education policies. Entering the 21st century, lifelong learning has been adopted by education policies in many countries, and UNESCO emphasized its core position in education in its 2015 report. China also regards lifelong learning as one of the fundamental concepts for promoting educational modernization in the "China Education Modernization 2035". The concept of lifelong learning is based on three scientific concepts: continuous lifelong learning, lifelong learning, and learning centered learning. It covers both formal and informal learning and is applicable to all educational participants, especially teachers. Studying the concept of lifelong learning is crucial for the pre service training, post service training, and professional competence recognition of teachers, and is the key to building a high-quality and professional teaching team.

2、 Teacher Qualification Grading Certification System

The concept of lifelong learning has promoted the development of the teacher qualification certification system. Since the 1980s, the United States has established a national teacher qualification certification system, such as the excellent teacher qualification certification service provided by NBPTS. The four major certification agencies in the United States have formed a complete teacher quality standard and certification system. The European Commission has also emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and certification systems for teachers. Countries such as the UK, Australia, Japan, and China have implemented teacher grading certification to assess and promote teacher professional development. The teacher grading certification system encourages teachers to continue learning and professional growth, and is an important standard for measuring the effectiveness of teachers' lifelong learning, which helps to enhance their professional competence and abilities.

3、 International Chinese Teacher Professional Ability Grading Certification

The importance and implementation of international Chinese language teacher professional competence grading recognition were discussed. The development of international Chinese language teachers' abilities and improvement of their literacy are crucial for the development of educational disciplines and careers. The International Chinese Teacher Standards (2007 and 2012 editions) provide the foundation for the teacher standard system, and the promotion of the lifelong learning concept requires all parties in education to understand and establish this concept. Teacher development is a dynamic process that includes the characteristics of different stages, therefore requiring scientific and people-oriented standards to evaluate teachers. The International Professional Standards for Chinese Language Teachers (T/ISCLT 001-2022) inherit and develop previous standards, emphasizing lifelong learning, dividing teacher abilities into three levels: primary, intermediate, and advanced, and developing corresponding recognition norms. This grading system encourages teachers to establish a sense of professional development, continuously expand their knowledge and abilities, and achieve sustainable professional development. The lifelong learning philosophy of international Chinese teachers should include the enhancement of educational beliefs, the updating of subject knowledge and abilities, the strengthening of cross-cultural communication skills, and the improvement of cooperation abilities. In the future, teacher qualification certification will serve as a guide for professional development and career planning, rather than a one-time final assessment.

4、 Summary and Prospect

International Chinese education is moving towards high-quality and connotative development, which requires drawing on advanced concepts, building a teacher standard system, and promoting the sustained and high-quality development of professional talents. Under the guidance of the concept of lifelong learning, the classification and recognition of teachers' professional abilities clarify the direction of teachers' professional development and career planning, encourage teachers to become lifelong learners, and achieve sustainable development of professional abilities.